Shloka 42
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
द्रौणिस्तदपि राजेन्द्र भल्लै: क्षिप्रं महारथ:,राजेन्द्र! शीघ्रतापूर्वक हाथ चलानेवाले सुदृढ़ आयुधधारी वीर महारथी अअभ्वत्थामाने समरांगणमें अनेक भल्लोंद्वारा रथसे उतरनेके पहले ही धृष्टद्युम्मकी उस ढाल-तलवारको भी काट दिया। यह एक अद्भुत-सी बात हुई
sañjaya uvāca |
drauṇis tad api rājendra bhallaiḥ kṣipraṁ mahārathaḥ |
rājendra śīghratāpūrvaka-hasta-cālanavān sudṛḍhāyudha-dhārī vīra-mahārathī aśvatthāmā samara-aṅgaṇe anekaiḥ bhallaiḥ rathād avarohituṁ pūrvam eva dhṛṣṭadyumnasya tāṁ ḍhāla-tālavāraṁ api ciccheda |
etad adbhutam iva abhavat ||
Sañjaya disse: Ó rei, ainda assim, o grande guerreiro de carro Ashvatthama—rápido no agir e firme nas armas—no campo de batalha, com muitas flechas afiadas, cortou o escudo e a espada de Dhṛṣṭadyumna antes mesmo que ele pudesse descer do carro. Foi um feito verdadeiramente assombroso.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary skill and speed in war can abruptly overturn an opponent’s readiness; it also underscores the grim momentum of battle, where prowess intensifies violence and drives the conflict toward harsher consequences.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Ashvatthama, using many broad-headed arrows, swiftly severs Dhrishtadyumna’s shield and sword before Dhrishtadyumna can even get down from his chariot—an act described as astonishing.